Craig Bellamy’s Welsh side made an encouraging start to their UEFA Nations League in Cardiff but were ultimately unable to overcome a Türkiye reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of Barış Alper Yılmaz.

There were few surprises in the Welsh starting XI. Sorba Thomas came in for the injured Dan James. No place for Kieffer Moore though. Cardiff City’s Aaron Ramsey skippered the hosts.

Despite the signage around the stadium which urged us to visit Malaysia and Terengganu, this was a very Welsh occasion, as once again this packed venue delivered a rousing welcome to the home side. The anthem was roared out acapella style, complete with BSL on-screen accompaniment.

It was Ramsey who almost drew first blood with a rare header after swift passing between Brennan Johnson and Connor Roberts. The skipper’s header flew narrowly beyond the woodwork.

Then Ramsey again soon after, flicking a corner from the impressive Sorba Thomas narrowly wide. Ampadu blazed one past the post as the hosts took the game to the bewildered-looking Turkish side. Joe Rodon scuffed a chance over as a goal seemed due.

Kenan Yildiz saw yellow following a hefty clattering of Roberts in a dominant and dashing display from Wales. Harry Wilson soon stopped a run by the same Juventus man as he tried to surge forward. Yellow card.

An angry tussle between Rodon and Barış saw an animated response from the visiting players. The Galatasaray winger seemed to make the most of contact in the Welsh box. The visiting fans had something to shout about at last. The home fans left us in no doubt what they thought of these antics.

Thomas calmly lobbed over visiting keeper Fehmi Mert Günok on 37 minutes but the flag was swiftly raised.

Wales ended the half strongly. The visitors had crept their way into the game but struggled to curtail the movement of Thomas,  Harry Wilson and Roberts.

Thomas was at it again after the interval, twisting and turning before firing narrowly wide from distance.

Türkiye had begun to offer more belligerent resistance, culminating in a close-range header from Barış which could have put them ahead. Former Leicester City defender Çağlar Söyüncü tried to rally the troops. It was a more even contest now, as Wilson sent an effort dangerously near the opposing goal.

60 minutes, and the pantomime villain Barış saw red for a dangerous stamp on Neco Williams. The home crowd sensed an opportunity.

Wales continued to press forward under heavy rainfall in South Wales, finding spaces to threaten, but that final killer blow just would not come.

Enter Kieffer Moore and, surprisingly, Lewis Koumas. Ramsey and – amazingly – the effervescent Thomas, left the field. 20 minutes to do the business.

But as we reached the closing five minutes, it was the visitors who seemed to carry most threat. Abdülkerim Bardakcı bringing a smart from save from Danny Ward with a crisp header.

Koumas enjoyed a lively spell as the clocked ticked into added time but, as the drizzle died off, so too did the Welsh threat as game 1 of the Bellamy era ultimately ended in stalemate.

 

Wales 0

Türkiye 0

Att. 28,625

 

DAVID COLLINS

WELSH FOOTBALL CORRESPONDENT

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